Gut Check
“My Walk with Jesus”
John 15:1-11

Gut Check
	A pause to assess the state, progress, or condition of something

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” – David, Psalm 139:23-24

We won’t imitate God if we don’t regularly pause and ask Him what He sees in us.

Gut Check my…
	Walk with Jesus

John 15

Imagery of the Vine
The image of the vine - vineyard - were commonly used through the Mediterranean world.
In Judaism, it was the symbol of Israel.
The temple had golden vine with grapes clusters hanging from it.
Vines and grapes (fruit) was the symbol of God’s blessing.
The imagery flowed all through the Old Testament (Isaiah 5:1-7, Jeremiah 2:21; 6:9, Psalm 80:14-16).
Jesus places Himself as the source rather than the temple.
“I am the true vine” would have been a revolutionary statement then as it should now.

“Every branch in me … ”

Jesus is saying …
	I am the source of all for you (v. 1, 3, 9)
	I want you to be fruitful and healthy (v. 4)
	Be aware that I am always with you (v. 5)
	If you don’t abide in me, you will lose all purpose (v. 6)

Vine dressing (v. 2)
	God will do it; we need to own it
	Taking away is removing the “sucker branches” (1 Corinthians 13:3)
	Pruning gives the branch a noticeable shape

Abiding in Jesus 
	Being aware of Jesus in every moment
	Generates fruit

Fruit
	Deeper prayer life filled with answers (v. 7; Hebrews 10:19-22)
	Characteristics that imitate God (v. 8)
	Love for others that surprises you (v. 9)
	Obedience that results in God lavishing love and blessings (v. 10)
	Joy that may not even make sense (v. 11)

What are your “sucker branches?”
Where do you need pruning?
Are you connected to Jesus?